News Democrats may lose senate majority; Tim Johnson's stroke

[Rach3]

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record) of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington hospital, weeks before his party was to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin.

Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.
...
If the two-term senator must be replaced, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds would make the appointment. If the Senate is split 50-50, the vice president breaks ties. That is Republican Dick Cheney at present.
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South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there are no special restrictions on such an appointment by the governor and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061213/ap_on_go_co/johnson

Here's hoping Tim recovers very, very soon.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Now they're saying that it wasn't a stroke.

It sounds like it might just be a TIA [transient ischemic attack], which is usually a minor event. I sure hope so.

 

[Astronuc]

It seems more severe than a TIA.

S.D. Sen. Johnson in critical condition
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061214/ap_on_go_co/johnson

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was in critical condition early Thursday, a hospital official said, after late-night brain surgery that followed hospitalization for stroke-like symptoms.

Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, . . . .

A person in George Washington University Hospital's media relations office said the hospital was preparing to announce that Johnson's condition was critical. The employee, who declined to be identified because a formal statement was pending, would not describe the surgery.

The surgery lasted past midnight Wednesday, and was disclosed by another official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the subject.

My thoughts are with his wife and children.

http://johnson.senate.gov/about.html

 

[Astronuc]

Doctor: Senator's progress 'encouraging'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_go_co/johnson

WASHINGTON - Sen. Tim Johnson was experiencing post-surgery swelling in his brain Friday, but his doctors said his recovery was still encouraging. They said he would remain hospitalized until the swelling went down.

The South Dakota Democrat, who suffered a brain hemorrhage Wednesday, remained in critical but stable condition Friday, just short of three weeks before the new Senate is to convene with his party holding control by a single vote.

The timing of his return is uncertain, but Democrats would still be in control of the Senate if his recovery period extends into the new session.

The surgery has been described as successful, relieving pressure on the 59-year-old senator's brain and stopping the bleeding.

I wish a speedy recovery.

He was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, a condition that causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large, become tangled and sometimes burst. The condition often is present from birth.

My father has a similar condition, and he experience a TIA in 1987. He recovered fully, but it's always been there, and could rupture again at some point. But life goes on.